Customer Backlash on iPhone Rate Plans, Launch Approaches

[MacInTO]

+1
I remember when someone bragged about telling their local media that cancelling a contract with Rogers would cost 7 thousand dollars all based on a misprint on the English version of the terms and conditions posted online.

It seemed obvious to me that they meant to a maximum of 400 dollars given that other plans had a similar cancellation fee. Someone confirmed that the french version said 100 per month remaining to a maximum of 400 dollars.

I would consider such behaviour to be irresponsible.

I consider Rogers for being irresponsible for publishing the information incorrectly. The person that told the media was just reporting what he had just read. The media are the ones that should be checking facts before reporting them as this is part of their job.

The Rogers page with the information actually had three errors on it. I'm shocked it could get through the lawyers and layers of management before being published on their website. Not much attention to detail here - typical of this organization.

 

[gugy]

Geesh... And to think these people vote.

Yes, they do and look at the mess we are now.

 

[lamina]

I consider Rogers for being irresponsible for publishing the information incorrectly.

That picture. Does this mean that I will have to pay $1100 to cancel a 3-year contract, or $400? I'm confused.

 

[shguy]

just dont understand apple said the iphone 3g is 199, and why i cant buy it at 199, and i must buy the contract too...

can i just use 199 to buy the phone without any plan....???

if not, that means i have to buy the unlock phone which apple said that is not good, but it is apple who force me to buy those....

 

[Drizzx]

AT&T's 3G plan pricing is financial rape. Not only did they raise the rate on the data portion unnecessarily, but they made texting an additional charge. This is exactly why monopolies are a bad thing. AT&T obviously knows it's the only game in town as far as the iphone is concerned, and they're not hesitating to stick the knife in and give it a little twist.

Rape to some is Honey to others apparently.

 

[Mackan]

just dont understand apple said the iphone 3g is 199, and why i cant buy it at 199, and i must buy the contract too...

can i just use 199 to buy the phone without any plan....???

if not, that means i have to buy the unlock phone which apple said that is not good, but it is apple who force me to buy those....

Steve only said what "sounded good" - iPhone for $199. He wouldn't mention any contracts and other details.

 

[ebenbruyns]

Yeah, their lack of pricing information is making it seem less and less likely that I will be buying an iPhone on launch day.

It's here in four days and we don't even know how much it'll cost! WTF??

I've managed to get some information out of someone regarding this - I'm not going to post this publicly but if you've got some great google skillz you should be able to contact me directly and I might be willing to share a little.

 

[unimac]

Now I think your justification for buying or not buying a phone are up to you. I just thought I would post a link that shows some other unlocked smartphone prices. It is up to you to decide if they are in the same price class or not as the iphone.

http://shopper.cnet.com/4566-6452_9-0.html?filter=100021_17075121_

I agree. Buying the iphone is up to you.. I just felt I would step in on this thread and provide some depth, truth, and reality to the mix as there seemed to be a lot of horse#(^%$ being thrown around.
As for your link, I think you should maybe re-evaluate the terms of the iphone. The iphone is absolutely not being sold in an unlocked fashion like many other smart phones are being sold. Thus, your link is worthless and misleading. I will take this moment to correct my previous post and clarify in this post that the prices that I mentioned earlier of $699/$799 were wrong. It is actually : $599/$699 respectively. Thus, making the spread $400.
Numerous posts confirm this :
http://www.techspot.com/news/30690-att-to-sell-699-iphone.html
And if you read the details, you understand that this overpayment only allows you to buy the phone w/o contract.. Not unlocked. Thus, a more valid link would be : http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/pda-phones-smartphones.jsp as I originally posted.

Now the rest of your rant looked to be a lot of opinion about credit and while I may agree with you to a point, I don't know what you hope to accomplish on this board.

The rest of my 'rant' was meant to draw a parallel to iphones and homes and the similarities between the two. This was done to draw out and highlight some issues which occur in a market in which people pay whatever is being asked of them for a product w/o any questioning. Further, it was done to show people that their purchase decisions affect every one else in the market.. Similar to voting, what good does it do to be educated and empowered as a voter when the majority of people are uneducated morons who will vote against you. In present day society, uneducated mobs are the norm. It was fine when they were not (due to market/economic forces...uneducated/uninformed by their nature don't have $$ to buy expensive things) given the same weighting/purchasing power as more informed parties. However, this great invention known as credit and 'renting' has necessarily allowed them to taint the balancing mechanisms in various markets. This is reflected largely in the number of companies whom are price gouging consumers on various fronts. Hope you understand the depth I was trying to add to the thread instead of the normal useless dribble and misinformed mess that people post.

I am all for doing as you please and want..... But start acting like you have some sense and stop blindly letting corporations take advantage of you. And stop w/ this logic : Oh look, people in other countries are getting screwed more.... So we better count our lucky stars. That is the mentality of a ______. Get a spine, get some sense, and act like you have some when you purchase products for the sake of us all.

 

[benzslrpee]

some of you here seem to enjoy taking it up the rear like a $5 hooker...you seriously think that $30 for unlimited data + $20 for unlimited text/pic/video is fair? let's not forget the iPhone can't send pics or videos via MMS. so what you guys (and me ) will be paying for is basically an overpiced text messaging service when it only cost $5 a month on T-Mobile's network in 2000, $5/month Sprint (and Verizon i think) in 2003...only Cingular at that point DID NOT have unlimited text. i remember that cause i was considering switchin' from Sprint and i burn through ~4k texts a month so no unlimited text was a deal breaker.

a couple of you mention that since the new 3g network is up AT&T naturally would increase their charge...wtf prior to AT&T even coming close to setting up their 3G network Sprint and Verizon were already way ahead with EVDO-Rev A networks back in 2005ish. the unlimited data plan for both i remember covered text, pic, video, internet...and was only $15 a month.

it's ONLY that after AT&T introduced some dumbass "iPhone" plan that Verizon and Sprint began noticing: hey, looks like most consumers will just bend over and hand us the lube...why not? now the whole forced bundling plans with phones are in vogue (ex. Instinct) and the good ol' fashioned pick and choose what you need is completely out the window.

what AT&T is doing is...understandable? the morons that keep harping about how "if you can't afford it then don't buy it" just shut the hell up.

most people here would agree that if the data plan was either optional or incremental they would be ecstatic. if you're in a place all day where free wifi is supplied either by work, school, home or coffee shop why the hell would you need an extra $30 going to AT&T? and for Christ's sake, $20 for unlimited text? text is like Coke/Sprite, dirt cheap, low cost and really easy to make...would anybody here pay $20 for unlimited Cokes?

you'd think a couple of posters here got AT&Ts nuts dangling under there chin by how comfortable they are with an extra $10 a month + extortionary texting plans.

just to use as an example, this is my current plan with Sprint that i have BEFORE the stupid all-in-one bundle that they are trying to push everyone to.


Sprint Mogul
800 anytime min $39.99
unlimited text/pic/video/data $15
unlimited nights (7pm) and weekend minutes free
corporate discount 23%

i have excellent reception at work but crap on campus and at home...too bad my gf prefers to call me when i'm at the other two places and has convinced me to go AT&T and share a plan with her. that and the iPhone.

 

[Kirbdog]

Steve only said what "sounded good" - iPhone for $199. He wouldn't mention any contracts and other details.

You got that right.

The iPhone is the best mobile device that you can get period. I also think it is good enough to warrant paying a premium to BUY it, but it is not that good that the masses are going to pay a heavy premium every month to use it.

I would rather the price model stayed the same, more at time of purchase then continually forking out for a higher monthly bill. This was bound to happen when Apple left it up to the telecomm companies to make back the subsidy through there monthly plans.

It is certainly a large mess with only themselves to blame. I think this wil hurt the iPhone brand. Hopefully when the sales numbers are weak we the consumers will see the rates fall and we get affordable iPhone rates that we have been waiting for.

 

[futurecaptain]

This goes out to the retard talking about evil corporations (popnfresh)

It really amazes me when someone complains about having to pay premium rates on new toys. Think of a time in history when having the latest and greatest was cheap??? Oh yea there isnt one. If you want the new technology then fork out the cash, they arent forcing you to buy the iphone so what are you complaining about??? And they DID NOT RAISE the rates!!! I have a 3G phone right now and when i get the iphone 3g my rates wont go up at all. All they are having people do is pay the 3g network price. And for those who want the 3g iphone but dont have 3g in their area and will have to pay the price anyway, I feel for ya but you can buy a used 1st gen iphone since they are going to be flooding the market when this new one comes out. Shush your mouth and go write a book about how screwed up the world is....

 

[Durandal549]

http://www.techspot.com/news/30690-att-to-sell-699-iphone.html
And if you read the details, you understand that this overpayment only allows you to buy the phone w/o contract.. Not unlocked. Thus, a more valid link would be : http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/pda-phones-smartphones.jsp as I originally posted.

Please do correct me if I am wrong because I thought I had this figured out. I am more than willing to say I was wrong. I always thought unlocked was synonymous with no contract, i.e. not locked into a carrier with a contract. I was under the impression you could (if you really wanted) by a no contract iphone in the states and take it to europe and by a sim card (and plan) and it would work. Or even use Tmobile over here with the caveat that you can't use 3G or other services because some of the technology is different.

http://www.techspot.com/news/30690-att-to-sell-699-iphone.html
Similar to voting, what good does it do to be educated and empowered as a voter when the majority of people are uneducated morons who will vote against you. In present day society, uneducated mobs are the norm. It was fine when they were not (due to market/economic forces...uneducated/uninformed by their nature don't have $$ to buy expensive things) given the same weighting/purchasing power as more informed parties. However, this great invention known as credit and 'renting' has necessarily allowed them to taint the balancing mechanisms in various markets.

Don't have much faith in the american public do you? Democracy? I agree to much credit/debt is bad for people but credit in and of itself is not a bad thing.

http://www.techspot.com/news/30690-att-to-sell-699-iphone.htmlI am all for doing as you please and want..... But start acting like you have some sense and stop blindly letting corporations take advantage of you. And stop w/ this logic : Oh look, people in other countries are getting screwed more.... So we better count our lucky stars. That is the mentality of a ______. Get a spine, get some sense, and act like you have some when you purchase products for the sake of us all.

We are having a debate on this forum about purchasing products, are we not? Trying to be better informed consumers, if you will.

 

[sjo]

Apple will be launching the iPhone 3G in 20 countries on July 11th. We'll provide ongoing coverage of the launch.

during the keynote jobs mentioned that the launch would take place in 22 countries on july 11th. any information which countries have been dropped and why?

 

[PCMacUser]

during the keynote jobs mentioned that the launch would take place in 22 countries on july 11th. any information which countries have been dropped and why?

Maybe two of the countries weren't countries but independent states or something?

 

[whitehexagon]

Still very tempted to buy despite some uneasy feelings on the rate plans. Maybe I'll wait for the pay-as-you-go plans later in the year. Are there any details yet about that?

I'm surprised no body has put all the different country iphone price plans up on wikipedia so far... please?

 

[6163621]

Where's the Finland petition? TeliaSonera's rates here are horrible too.

Sad to say, with both versions of Iphone I was excited and then annoyed that version 1 was not on sale here. Whilst some things look attractive like the app store and the mac integration, I am again wavering. My phone is on its last legs. I already have an unlimited data plan with DNA for my laptop (usb stick) and I could move the SIM into a N96.

I really don't know what to do... the sensible part of me says keep away presently.. The shiny shiny side of me says buy buy (Iphone).

 

[AndrewClarke]

Please do correct me if I am wrong because I thought I had this figured out. I am more than willing to say I was wrong. I always thought unlocked was synonymous with no contract, i.e. not locked into a carrier with a contract. I was under the impression you could (if you really wanted) by a no contract iphone in the states and take it to europe and by a sim card (and plan) and it would work. Or even use Tmobile over here with the caveat that you can't use 3G or other services because some of the technology is different.

No that's not quite right. An unlocked phone is a phone that can be used on other carriers. So for instance I could buy an iPhone through AT&T with a 2 year contract, then unlock the phone. I could then take the phone and go to Canada on vacation and plug in a SIM from Rogers and use the phone in Canada. However, I'd still be paying my contract to AT&T.

Then when I get back to the US I put my AT&T SIM back in and continue to use it on AT&T's network.

In another example, I could NOT unlock my phone, and play out my contract with AT&T. At the end of my contract, I would have no contract, but my phone would still be locked to AT&T's network.

- Andrew.

 

[JamSandwich]

I just took a look at the Telus (CDMA) plans and while they do appear to offer a unlimited data plan, the fine print appears to bar certain types of devices and certain types of traffic and the Telus (CDMA) voice plans are in most cases worse for minutes compared with what I have right now with Rogers.

Given the lack of restrictions on the data plan from Rogers, it is not a horrible as some of the Telus and Bell employees posting here are trying to make it sound. I've been a Telus customer before and they sucked before and still suck.

While I can appreciate that you're excited about getting an iPhone, the whole tinfoil hat conspiracy shtick is really wearing thin. I'm sure most of the people who are complaining about iPhone plans are Bell and Telus employees.

I signed up with Bell the day after the plans launched. I've been waiting for the iPhone here since I first heard about it, and it's been a long wait. I know a lot of people who were excited about the iPhone coming and were absolutely shocked by what Rogers had to offer. I know a couple of people who have made it a staple of everyday conversation.

Most of the people who are posting here are Mac fans. That's why we're at Macrumors.com rather than a place like howardforums or some other wireless-centric forum. In a lot of ways, I'm absolutely gutted that I went with the HTC Touch. It's a fine phone (and much better after upgrading the crappy IE browser), but I've used an iPhone before, and an iPhone this ain't.

But I have my limits. I was willing to pay way more than I'd ever considered paying per month for an iPhone. I'd even semi-seriously told my wife we'd cancel the home phone for a pair of iPhones. The plans came in within my price range, but what they offered was incredibly far from what I was hoping for (or what I was expecting -- and yes, those were two different things).

It's clear your excited, and you're getting one. I don't think anyone except the most extreme Rogers haters will blame you for that... and I imagine most people will be envious. But the reason people are taking aim at Rogers isn't because we're all Bell and Telus operatives, tasked with spamming the Internet with our hatred. It's because we're disappointed. It's pretty stunning when I think about my feelings now and compare those to my excitement just a few weeks ago.

To be clear, I don't think Rogers' plans are horrendous, historically speaking... but I do think they might have been "good" a year ago, while their competitors are clearly pushing the envelope today.

 

[maestrokev]

Remember Beta vs VHS

I wonder if anyone has written to Steve Jobs and pointed out VHS didn't win over Beta because it was technologically superior.

The iPhone 3G vs Samsung Instinct will be a similar battle unless the voice and data package is improved.

 

[teme]

Apple could have shaken a little bit the mobile operator market with iPhone, and choose the operator that offers best options for customers. I don't know how Apple decided the operator for each country. Apple could have demanded an option for unlimited data for reasonable price, for example. Too strict data plans hurt iPhone, because a good data plan is needed to use many attractive features of iPhone. If people can't use Safari/Google Maps/AppStore etc. because the data plan is too strict, they may think that current phone is okay because those fancy iPhone features would be too expensive to use.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Netcom Norway has caved and introduced a FREE DATA plan.

Who said online partitions doesn't help...

Happy days....

 

[christian_k]

What is anyone doing when they're texting? I don't get why its useful. Why not call someone. If they're not there or busy, just leave a message?

Are folks just sitting around bored in class texting to each other? If you do computer work, you can msg using IM.

T-Mobile Germany (exclusive carrier for the iPhone in Germany) explicitly forbids the use of IM services on the iPhone in their terms and conditions. They also forbid it for several other data plans. They say it would be harmful to the network - I can hardly believe it because of its very low data usage. I think they just want to force customers into using overpriced SMS.

For me this is one more reason not to get an iPhone. I frequently use Skype and ICQ via 3G on the EPlus network and they don't have a problem with it.

Christian

 

[gnasher729]

That picture. Does this mean that I will have to pay $1100 to cancel a 3-year contract, or $400? I'm confused.

That is most likely the intention

 

[MacInTO]

Apple could have shaken a little bit the mobile operator market with iPhone, and choose the operator that offers best options for customers. I don't know how Apple decided the operator for each country. Apple could have demanded an option for unlimited data for reasonable price, for example. Too strict data plans hurt iPhone, because a good data plan is needed to use many attractive features of iPhone. If people can't use Safari/Google Maps/AppStore etc. because the data plan is too strict, they may think that current phone is okay because those fancy iPhone features would be too expensive to use.

In Canada the decision to go with Rogers is easy because they have the only GSM network in Canada. There was two but they bought the other one a few years ago.

 

[eastcoastsurfer]

Then don't buy the iPhone! All the lemmings on here will complain away and then go buy it anyways. Apple and AT&T know this, so they don't care. If you really want changes, then quit complaining and start voting with your dollars. There are a lot of cheap phones, companies and plans out there right now. No one has a right to have the iPhone be one of the cheap ones.

And no, I'm not defending the pricing. I'm just stating how to get it changed.